Wellamarin Hotel

The spa was a good option when the weather kept us from using the lake, which is just a minute from the hotel. There were several saunas and pools, and massages were available. The food tasted good, though the selection was limited and there weren’t really healthy choices. The room was reasonably clean, but the balcony was covered in spider webs and hadn’t been cleaned, so we couldn’t sit out and enjoy the view. The main bed was fine, but in the family apartment the extra sleeping spot was just a sofa, which was very uncomfortable for the person using it. The pillows weren’t great either. Room technology, including the TV, felt dated, with no streaming service and only Hungarian free-to-air channels. They charge a lot for parking, yet the lot is still full. When someone parks badly and takes up two spaces, the hotel doesn’t help you find a place. It’s probably one of the better hotels in the area, and it was reasonably clean both in the room and spa.

We went in August and loved the place. The property was gorgeous, with side views of the lake, and the staff were kind and helpful. The buffet was fabulous, with enough choices for different diets, including vegetarian and vegan options, non-dairy milks, and gluten-free food. There’s a free beach with watersport rentals such as SUP and windsurfing. The south side of Balaton stays shallow for a long way out, which feels odd for swimming. That setup is great, though, if you like having shallow water spread over a wide area.

The food was okay, but the selection was minimal. I’m not sure what vegetarians are meant to eat there, since all I really saw was salad. Our waiter was very unprofessional, a loud young guy who seemed about 18 and had no idea how to behave professionally. The bathroom smelled so bad I could barely go in without feeling like I’d vomit. The shower cubicle nearly fell apart during my first shower, and the room was very small. The spa was underwhelming too: the pool that was supposed to be warm was cold, so I couldn’t stay in it. We asked for a dry towel and were refused. For this much money, I’d expect to at least get a dry towel. I definitely don’t recommend this hotel, and we won’t be back.

The kind staff at the bar are the reason I’m giving three stars instead of two. This was our third visit, and unfortunately it will be the last. We were so happy with the service, room, and meals on our previous stay in 2019 that I recommended the hotel to friends and family many times. This time was a real disappointment. 😞 There was confusion about parking and the baby bed we’d booked with the hotel the day before arrival. Housekeeping didn’t clean our suite, so I took our used towels and replaced them with clean ones from the trolley in the corridor. On our third day, around 4 p.m., someone came to clean the bathroom mirror and empty the bins. Dinner was almost the same every evening, with only small changes. There wasn’t a proper salad or vegetarian selection, mostly just pickles. The pool was lukewarm and dirty. They unfortunately couldn’t keep up this time.